Cathay daparture OOL Sunday morning 02 Feb

[Rhino57]

Hi everyone,

I just saw a Cathay A330 take off from OOL around 10:10am QLD time..... Anyone know if this was a chartered flight perhaps for Chinese New Year...??? or a diverted aircraft ?
I have not noticed any Cathay aircraft at OOL before... Thanks...

 

[markis10]

CNY charter

02-Feb-14 10:11 78018E B-HLN A333 CPA8146 Gold Coast Hong Kong

 

[Meggsy]

Hi everyone,

I just saw a Cathay A330 take off from OOL around 10:10am QLD time..... Anyone know if this was a chartered flight perhaps for Chinese New Year...??? or a diverted aircraft ?
I have not noticed any Cathay aircraft at OOL before... Thanks...

Yep one of three charter flights, the other 2 being China Southern, 1 a couple of days ago and the next 1 due on the 8th of Feb, coming in as part of the Chinese new year celebrations from Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

 

[Rhino57]

Thank you Markis. Good to know. I wish CX would fly regularly from OOL.

 

[Rhino57]

Thank you Meggsy. This will help the local tourism.

 

[zainman]

I also observed a China Eastern aircraft departing OOL last Sunday afternoon.. Didn't think they had regular service to OOL...

 

[markis10]

I also observed a China Eastern aircraft departing OOL last Sunday afternoon.. Didn't think they had regular service to OOL...

We are bound to get a few of the extras:

The China Daily reported Xia Xinghua, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), as saying this week that Chinese airlines will provide at least 1.1 million seats every day to meet the extra demand. The number of weekly domestic flights will increase 24% to approximately 62,000, while international flights will increase 20% to more than 9,600 weekly services.


China’s ‘big three’ airlines have announced plans to add more than 8,000 extra flights over the 40-day holiday, including more than 4,000 for China Eastern Airlines and 3,000 for Air China.

Chinese airlines prepare for New Year travel surge | Travel Daily Asia

 

[Isochronous]

CX have maxed out their traffic rights to Australia, but I believe they get an exemption for non SYD/MEL/BNE airports, so perhaps OOL could be on the cards as BNE overflow a few days a week.

 

[docjames]

I'd be surprised if CX couldn't make OOL work 3-4 per week.

 

[Rhino57]

I totally agree and hope they think outside the square and use OOL for 1 - 2 flights per week. This would be great for the GC and an easier transport route for SE QLD/ NTH NSW to Asia than via BNE..